Brazilian Burger Joint Moves Into the U.S.

by Nate Wooley | January 15, 2013 1:10 pm

[1]Giraffas, a Brazil-based chain of burger restaurants, is planning to expand quickly through Florida and then the rest of America.

The 350-restaurant chain from South America already has three Miami-based stores and construction is underway on more, Burger Business reports[2]. The plan is to have between eight and 12 stores open in Florida by the end of the year.

Most are already in development with signed leases. In addition to opening its own stores, the chain plans to begin franchising to the rest of the country in 2014.

In an interview with Burger Business, Giraffas U.S. Director of Marketing Carlos Vanegas says, “We’ve taken it up a notch in our food quality and our service offering. To the best of our knowledge, we are the only Brazilian-theme fast-casual concept out there.”

The chain’s pricing is a little higher than fast-food. A basic burger, called a Grilled Picanha Single, costs $7.90 and a costlier burger goes for $11.90. The firm hopes that by establishing a price-point between traditional fast-food and costlier casual dining options, it can be an alternative for customers wanting more than a standard quick-service menu.